Lock fob huts of eailboad-bolts



ilNlTE STES narrar f H. LAWRENCE AND C. H. VHITE, OF MELROSE, NEVI YORK.

LOCK FOR NUTS OF RAILROAD-BOLTS.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, HENRY LAwnnNcn and CHARLES H. WHITE, of Melrose, inthe county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new andimproved Method of Locking the Nuts on Railroad- Rail Bolts; and we dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making a. part of this speciiicaticn, in which- Figure l, is a. sideview of two ends of a rail road rail bolted together, wherein the nutson the bolts are locked by our improved device. Fig. 2. shows atransverse section through the rail at a point where a bolt passesthrough it. Fig. 3. is an enlarged view showing the washer which is usedin locking the nuts and the attachment of the nut thereto. Fig. 4t. is atransverse section through a washer having spikes on its back. F 5.shows the back of the washer of Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

The object of our invention is to prevent the nuts, en bolts, which areused to secure strengthening hars on each side of the joints of railroadrails, from wearing loose in consequence of the arring and concussionsoccasioned by the passing and repassing of trains over the rail.

The nature of our invention consists in interposing washers between thenuts and fishing bars and securing the nuts to said washers by springpawls, on the nuts, engaging with ratchet teeth, on the washers, aswillv be hereinafter described., that the nuts may be set up whendesired, but will be efl'ectually prevented from turning loose.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use our invention we willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

ln the accompanying drawings A. A. represent the ends of two sections ofa common T railroad rail and B. B. are fishing bars which are formed inthe usual manner to tit snugly against each side of the rails and toextend some distance on each side of the lioint thereof for the purposeof strengthening the rail table and preventing the ends of the railsfrom springing either upward, downward or laterally.

C. C. C. C. are the bolts having angular heads, which pass transverselythrough holes made through the bars B. B. and the neck of the rails A.A. and which are to receive nuts D. D. D. D. on their ends, on whichscrew threads are cut in the usual manner for the purpose of securingthe bars B. B. rigidly to the rails. These bolts and nuts are inade inthe usual manner and indeed our invention can be readily applied to theold bolts and nuts which are at present in use.

G. G. Gr. G. represent circular cast iron washers which are flat on oneside and have.

an annular iiange c, projecting from the other side. Around the insidesurface of each flange ratchet teeth are formed as shown in Figs. l. 2.3 and t, of the drawings. The flanges a, on the washers G. G. projectout a half inch or more or less and the inside diameter of these annularanges should be somewhat larger than the nuts which are used on. thebolts. rlhe nuts D. may be made square, octagonal, or of any suitableshape; and in one of the sides of each nut a deep groove is out intowhich is inserted one end of a strong steel spring g, which is somewhatlonger than the space between the nut and ratchet teeth on the flange c,and it is therefore bent so that its free end will engage with theratchet teeth. This spring, or springs, for one or more may be used,forms the lock for connecting the nuts D. with the washer G. and whileit will allow the nut to be turned in a direction for setting it fartheron the bolt, the spring will not allow the nut to be turned backward orunscrewed.

The bolts C. 1 are passed transversely through the bars B. B. andthrough longitudinal slots through the necks of the rails A. A and theheads of these bolts are recessed into one of the bars as shown in Fig.2, of the drawings, so that the bolts themselves will not turn. Thewashers are new shipped onthe ends of the bolts with their ratchetflanges c, a, outward, and brought up against the bar on this side ofthe rails. The nuts D. with their springs g, are now screwed on thebolts and set up tightly against the washers by a screw wrench. Thesewashers, on account of their large bearing surface will not be liable toturn and as the nuts are secured to the washers and the whole are set uptightly against the side of the bar a perfect lock Will be formed whichWhile it will admit of the nuts being set up tighter Will not turnbackward.

If it is found desirable spikes c, c, may be cast or otherwise formed onthe backs of the Washers as shown in Figsi 4 and 5, 0f the drawings,which may be driven into indentations made in the fishing bars foreffectually preventing the Washers from turning or being turned While onthe bolts and against the bar B. For Wood-Work the spikes 0, C, o, onthe Washers G. G. G. will be found desirable, but for iron-Work thepoints e, c, c, will not be necessary.

In order to take a nut o one of the bolts the spring g, inust be brokenout, which can be done by a slight tap with a chisel and i as thesprings are only slipped loosely in' the grooves in the nuts anotherspring can be used to again apply the nut as before Having thusdescribed our invention what We claim as ne7 and desire to secure byLetters Patent is- The Washers Gr. G. G. having annular ratchet teethianges a, formed on tliein in combination with the springs or pawls 9,'

which are secured to the nuts D. substanv tlally as and for the purposesherein setforth.

HENRY LAVRENCE. CHARLES H. VHITE. Vitnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, JAMES LAIRD.

